THE BIRD LADY: Autumn is a good season to start feeding birds for the first time

Our yard seldom has juncos in it during the summer months. Some years, for one reason or another, a pair may stay to nest, but most of the population heads for the forests and the higher elevations. When the juncos return in the fall. it's time to refurbish the feeders and see what else needs to be done to keep the birds content this winter.

The number of feeders left out during the warmer months is minimal - just enough to keep the chickadees, nuthatches, towhees and song sparrows happy during nesting season. We also want the visiting black-headed grosbeaks to stick around. In a few weeks it will be time to put out the rest of the feeders.

If you are feeding birds for the first time, autumn is an excellent time to start. The bird population does a lot of wandering between August and October. The birds go where the food is abundant. They forage on ripening fruit and berry crops. As these natural foodsource are depleted, they frequent the feeders more often.

Certain trees in our yard have seen a lot of bird activity this fall. Starlings, robins, cedar waxwings and band-tailed pigeons have been devouring the ripe dogwood buttons. The result is a constant raining down of the seeds from these buttons.

Woodpeckers like the pileated and the northern flicker have been making the yard ring with their loud calls. They claim the apple trees for their own. Another woodpecker, the red-breasted sapsucker, is drilling away on one large cedar tree. He's after insects while making wells of sap to attract them. We suspect he may have killed or seriously weakened the holly tree. It's loaded with berries but its top half doesn't look good.

The trees, shrubs and other plants which we planted and maintained to attract the birds are like waving flags. Once these natural foods bring the birds to the yard they discover the feeders. If they see what they like they stay and the news gets around.

Black sunflower seeds, a bird- seed mix containing mostly millet, and a mixture of lard and oatmeal will bring lots of birds to your feeders. Don't mix sunflower seeds with other bird seed. When you see how many of the birds prefer the sunflower seeds, you'll know how much mixed bird seed to offer.

I don't put bird seed mixes in my feeders because they go almost untouched. What works best in our yard is to scatter the mixed seed on the ground. The reason is simple. It appeals more to ground feeders like sparrows, towhees and juncos. The northern flickers will also eat mixed bird seed and of course the jays will eat almost anything.

Chickadees, nuthatches, pine siskins, house finches, purple finches, evening grosbeaks and red crossbills love sunflower seeds. The goldfinches do also and if they are happy with sunflower seeds you may want to stay away from their favorite food - thistle seeds. These are much more expensive, and once they get the taste for them, that's what they want.

After you've offered filet mignon you can't substitute hamburger.

If you don't have the recipe for lard and oatmeal, here it is. Use 1 pound of lard to a quart or more of rolled oats. Melt the lard in a frying pan on low heat. When it has melted, add the oats and mix well. Put this mixture in a storage container and let cool. It doesn't have to be refrigerated. Once it is firm, put it in a feeder designed for bird "puddings" (more on this in a later column).

For now, just make sure the feeders are clean and full. The birds will be checking the menu in your yard any day now. Warm weather or not, autumn is here.

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